Humane hitch.



J. G. FISCHER & E. GHINN.

HUMANB HITCH.

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J. G. FISCHER-8a E. GHINN.

HUMANE HITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1910.

#036,207. Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

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JOHN Gr. FISCHER AND EMMETT GI-IINN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HUMANE HITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Application-filed June 7, 1910. Serial No. 565,465.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN G FISCHER andEMMETT CHINN, citizens of the United States, residing at St. Louis,State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHumane Hitches; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The invention relates to a humane hitch and more particularly to theclass of vehicle hitching devices.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter in which all strain or draft will be relieved from the back orneck of an animal when hitched to a vehicle for pulling the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter in which the animal when hitched to the thills of a vehiclewill have the required freedom of shoulder play when pulling forward andadvancing the vehicle, the weight of the load on the vehicle beingrelieved from the back or neck of the animal as the vehicle is beingadvanced.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which may be connected with the thills and to the front axleof varying style vehicles without requiring any alteration or change inthe construction of the thills of the front axles.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis character which will obviate the downward pulling eifect of thethills upon the back of an animal and also that will relieve the strainfrom either the neck or back of the animal due to excessive load on thevehicle to which the animal is hitched.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable andefficient in operation and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consistsin theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, disclosing the preferred form of embodiment of the inventionand pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view of the front axle of avehicle and the thills connected thereto with the invention applied.Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bell crank levers and theiradjunct parts connected thereto, the same being shown in shiftedposition by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View. Fig. 4 isa detail perspective view of one of the axle clips in which is mountedone bell crank lever and its connecting rods.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals 5 designates the ordinary frontaxle of a vehicle on which are ournaled the usual front supportingwheels 6 and to this axle is connected by the usual thill connections 7the shafts or thills 8 the same being united by a thill cross bar 9 atopposite longitudinal edges of which are disposed parallel tie rods 10the same being suitably fastened at their ends to the said thills 8 andby means of these tie rods the thills are materially strengthened andreinforced to prevent the disconnection thereof from the thill cross barwhen in use.

The hitching device comprises a pair of inverted U-shaped axle clips 11the same embracing and secured in any convenient manner to the frontaxle 5 in spaced relation to each other and inside of the points ofconnection of the thilhcoupling 7 with said axle. Each clip 11 is formedwith forwardly extending spaced parallel ears 12 and between the ears 12of the said clips are pivoted bell crank levers 13 each having one armoutturned while the other arm extends in a rearward direction and tothese latter arms are pivotally connected the forked ends 14 of auniting link or crossed connecting rod 15 so that on the movement of onebell crank lever the other will simultaneously move therewith.

Secured to the under faces of the thills 8 in alinement with the thillcross bar 9 are plates 16 having depending eyes 17 with which areloosely connected the upper ends of swinging bars 18 each containingnear its lower end a series of spaced openings 19 and with any oneopening 19 in both series contained in the bars 18 are loosely connectedthe forward eye terminals 20 of links 21 the same having their rear eyeterminals 22'connected to the outturned arms of the bell crank levers13. It is obvious that the for- Ward end of these links 21 may beadjusted on the bars 18 by reason of the provision of the series ofopenings in the lower ends thereof. I

Loosely connected to the lower openings of both seriesin the bars 18 areshort eye members 23 to which are detachably engaged the hook ends 2% oftraces 25 the same be ing connected with the breast strap or collar (notshown) of ordinary harness for draft animals whereby they may the thillsof a vehicle.

Heretofore the traces 25 have, been con-c permitting the requisiteshoulder play of adraft animal when pulling the vehicle and also thedraft strain due to heavy loading of a vehicle will be relieved from theback and neck of an animal when hitched to the thills so thatpossibility of injury to the animal resulting from burdening the loadupon the back and neck portion of the said animal is reduced to aminimum.

What is claimed is 1. In a hitch, the combination with the front axle ofa vehicle and t-hills connected thereto, of clips removably attached tothe axle and having forwardly extending portions, bell crank leverspivotally supported by said forwardly extending portions of the clips, across rod connecting the rearwardly be hitched to extending portions ofsaid bell crank levers, a cross bar connectingthe thills, dependingswinging bars connected to the underfaces of the thills adjacent to thecross bar, links connecting the outwardly extending portions of the bellcrank levers and adj ustably attached to the swinging bars and linksalso adjustably attached to said bars for connection with trace ends ona axle of the vehicle;

2. The combination with a vehicle axle and thills connected thereto forpivotal movement; of a cross bar connecting the thills and braced inposition, inverted U- line with the shaped clips detachably connected tothe axle inwardly of the attaching points of the thills and havingspaced forwardly extending ears, bell cranklevers pivotally supported atthe forward ends of said ears and between the same, a rod having forkedend-s connected to the normally rearwardly extended arms of the levers,plates secured to the underfaces of the thill's adjacent to the crossbar and having depending eyes,-

depending swinging bars loosely connected at their upper ends in saideyes and having a series of spaced openings adjacent their lower ends,adjustable attaching means for trace ends connected to said bars andconnections from the normally outwardly ex tending arms of the leverswith said bars.

In testimony whereof, we aifix our signatures, in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN G. riscnnn. EMMETT crirNN.

l Vitnesses E. S. FROST, W. A. LEONARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

